MMM: Do You Remember the Time?

I won't be posting any Michael Jackson music today. The radio stations and television stations have the tributes pretty much covered. Besides, I don't think I could choose a single song from his legacy that I'd want to hear above all the others.

By far Michael Jackson's music is the most widely recognizable and enjoyed. I think everyone around my age attempted the moonwalk or ran around the house wearing a single glove at least once during their youth. If you don't think you did, ask your mom, I'm sure she remembers. She may even have pictures. Now that he's passed, what can we fans expect in the coming years?

Back in my parent's youth, singer-songwriter Don McLean used the term "The Day the Music Died" to refer to the loss of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. For their generation, the loss of those great performers was a tragic period in music history.

I've been wondering what term, a term not coined by the news media, will be used to remind us of Michael Jackson's passing? Will the Jackson family, Quincy Jones and Will.i.am gather artists from the world over to commemorate his passing in song? Will fans see this as a cheap attempt to capitalize off the legend's death? We'll have to wait and see what develops. Regardless, Michael Jackson will live on forever through his music.

Don McLean's American Pie isn't really reminiscent of the style of Michael Jackson and some of the phrasing is a bit dated, but the sentiment feels appropriate.

Don McLean - American Pie

What sort of tribute would you like to see for Michael Jackson?

MMM: A Graveyard Smash!

Monday already, huh? More importantly, Halloween is just five days away! I'd like to use my Monday Mood Music platform to launch my own mini post-a-thon in celebration of the season. Welcome to the first post in the Week of Reel WHorror!

This week's music selection satisfies both the groove you need to start the week off right but also the vibe necessary to ring in the witching hour.

The video is more a short film than a collage of pretty images set to music. It debuted nearly twenty-five years and cost around a half-million dollars; an unheard of amount at that time for a music video.

Zombies with far better coordination than those in Romero films get down in the dead of night, Vincent Price recites a foreboding prelude to the horrors to come, and director John Landis transforms the King of Pop into a cat-like monster and a zombie with a penchant for red leather. Michael Jackson's Thriller is a classic. You'll no doubt hear it a lot this week, but enjoy the full length video here.

The scariest part of Thriller is Ola Ray's skin-tight blue denim cheetah print capri's and matching denim jacket. **shudder**